Hickman is our pick as the top boys basketball team in Missouri this season. Also watch out for McCluer North, Fort Zumwalt North, Republic and Chaminade.
MaxPreps 2013-14 Missouri Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the boys basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state1. Hickman (Columbia)Head Coach: David Johnson
2012-13 finish: 27-3, defeated Vianney 65-53 in Class 5 Consolation Game.
Riding a nine-game winning streak, Hickman moved into the top spot in Class 5, Missouri’s big school classification, and carried that target on its back heading into district play. But the Kewpies settled for third after falling 67-59 to eventual champion Rockhurst in the state semifinals. Johnson says he has even more depth coming off the bench in 2013-14 and returns a pair of all-state performers in
Jimmy Whitt (18.6 ppg) and
Chris Clark (13.6 ppg). All-District performers
Douglas Johnson,
Mason Murray and
Jordan Jones give Johnson the nucleus he needs to earn that top ranking and keep it this season.
2. McCluer North (Florissant)Head Coach: Trevor Laney
2012-13 finish: 15-12, lost to Vianney 49-44 in the Class 5 quarterfinals
After claiming back-to-back Class 5 championships in 2011 and 2012, McCluer North was in rebuilding mode a year ago. But by season’s end the Stars were playing as well as anyone, despite finishing with a 15-12 record.
Rashad Lindsey (5-11, Sr.) transferred in from MICDS last season and earned first team all-state honors and was named Newcomer of the Year in the Suburban North Conference after scoring more than 21 points per contest.
Dorian Holland (6-3, Sr.) claimed second team all-league honors in 2012-13.
Jordan Boone (5-10, Sr.),
Chris Busbee (6-1, Sr.) and
Demonte Morris give first year coach Trevor Laney a solid nucleus to build around.
3. Fort Zumwalt North (O'Fallon)Head Coach: Charles Glotta
2012-13 finish: 22-6, lost to McCluer North 71-66 at Class 5 sectionals
Hard work and dedication is starting to pay off for Fort Zumwalt North coach Charles Glotta, his sons
Chaz Glotta and
Zach Glotta and the rest of the Panther roster. After posting a 22-6 mark a year ago, this team is loaded with star power beginning with Southern Illinois-Carbondale commit Chaz, who has 1,700 points going into his final season. Glotta’s younger son Zach is getting plenty of D-I recruiting attention and sits second on the school’s all-time assist list with two years of eligibility left.
Blake Buls and
Kris McCann are also returning starters.
Bryan Hauser (6-3) and
Demond Morton, a transfer from Normandy (Mo.), give Glotta six quality athletes to build around.
4. RepublicHead Coach: Trevyor Fisher
2012-13 finish: 28-4, defending Class 4 champion
It took Republic 50 years to claim its second state basketball championship trophy a year ago. Odds are it won’t take that long to win another one. While it is true that it is difficult to repeat, Fisher does have the athletes to bring home the Class 4 hardware once again, starting with first team all-state forward
Cody Geiger (6-4, Sr.).
Dylan Bekemeier (6-0, Sr.),
Canyon Smith (6-0, Sr.), deadly from beyond the arc,
Brock Yocum (5-11, Jr.) and
Dillen Ramsey (6-4, Sr.) are set to give any team on their schedule fits.
5. Chaminade (St. Louis)Head Coach: Frank Bennett
2012-13 finish: 20-7, lost to Jackson 60-59 at Class 5 sectionals
Led by super sophomore
Jayson Tatum (6-6), former Chaminade assistant Frank Bennett takes over a tradition-rich Red Devil program that is stocked and ready to make a run at another Class 5 state basketball title.
Tyler Cook (6-6, So.) and
Will Gladson (6-7, So.) give Bennett plenty of size to work with.
Grant Hollander (6-3, Sr.) and
Damon Patterson (6-2, Sr.) combined to score more than 17 points an outing a year ago.
